Phase II study of dichloroacetate, an inhibitor of pyruvate dehydrogenase, in combination with chemoradiotherapy for unresected, locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locally-advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HSNCC) yields 5-year survival rates near 50% despite causing significant toxicity. Dichloroacetate (DCA), a pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase metabolic inhibitor, reduces tumor lactate production and has been used in cancer therapy previously. The safety of adding this agent to CRT is unknown. Our randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase II study added DCA to cisplatin-based CRT in patients with LA-HNSCC. The primary endpoint was safety by adverse events (AEs). Secondary endpoints compared efficacy via 3-month end-of-treatment response, 5-year progression-free and overall survival. Translational research evaluated pharmacodynamics of serum metabolite response. 45 participants (21 DCA, 24 Placebo) were enrolled from May 2011-April 2014. Higher rates of all-grade drug related fevers (43% vs 8%, p = 0.01) and decreased platelet count (67% vs 33%, p = 0.02) were seen in DCA versus placebo. However, there were no significant differences in grade 3/4 AE rates. Treatment compliance to DCA/placebo, radiation therapy, and cisplatin showed no significant difference between groups. While end-of-treatment complete response rates were significantly higher in the DCA group compared to placebo (71.4% vs 37.5%, p = 0.0362), survival outcomes were not significantly different between groups. Treatment to baseline metabolites demonstrated a significant drop in pyruvate (0.47, p < 0.005) and lactate (0.61, p < 0.005) in the DCA group. Adding DCA to cisplatin-based CRT appears safe with no detrimental effect on survival and expected metabolite changes compared to placebo. This supports further investigation into combining metabolic agents to CRT. Trial registration number: NCT01386632, Date of Registration: July 1, 2011.

Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) adult study protocol: Rationale, objectives, and design.

IMPORTANCE: SARS-CoV-2 infection can result in ongoing, relapsing, or new symptoms or other health effects after the acute phase of infection; termed post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), or long COVID. The characteristics, prevalence, trajectory and mechanisms of PASC are ill-defined. The objectives of the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Multi-site Observational Study of PASC in Adults (RECOVER-Adult) are to: (1) characterize PASC prevalence; (2) characterize the symptoms, organ dysfunction, natural history, and distinct phenotypes of PASC; (3) identify demographic, social and clinical risk factors for PASC onset and recovery; and (4) define the biological mechanisms underlying PASC pathogenesis. METHODS: RECOVER-Adult is a combined prospective/retrospective cohort currently planned to enroll 14,880 adults aged ≥18 years. Eligible participants either must meet WHO criteria for suspected, probable, or confirmed infection; or must have evidence of no prior infection. Recruitment occurs at 86 sites in 33 U.S. states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico, via facility- and community-based outreach. Participants complete quarterly questionnaires about symptoms, social determinants, vaccination status, and interim SARS-CoV-2 infections. In addition, participants contribute biospecimens and undergo physical and laboratory examinations at approximately 0, 90 and 180 days from infection or negative test date, and yearly thereafter. Some participants undergo additional testing based on specific criteria or random sampling. Patient representatives provide input on all study processes. The primary study outcome is onset of PASC, measured by signs and symptoms. A paradigm for identifying PASC cases will be defined and updated using supervised and unsupervised learning approaches with cross-validation. Logistic regression and proportional hazards regression will be conducted to investigate associations between risk factors, onset, and resolution of PASC symptoms. DISCUSSION: RECOVER-Adult is the first national, prospective, longitudinal cohort of PASC among US adults. Results of this study are intended to inform public health, spur clinical trials, and expand treatment options. REGISTRATION: NCT05172024.

Safety and Efficacy of Pembrolizumab With Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Phase IB Study.

PURPOSE: Pembrolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks interaction between programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) and its ligands (PD-L1, PD-L2). Although pembrolizumab is approved for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), its role in the management of locally advanced (LA) disease is not defined. We report a phase IB study evaluating the safety and efficacy of adding pembrolizumab to cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy in patients with LA HNSCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients included those with oral cavity (excluding lip), oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, or laryngeal stage III to IVB HNSCC (according to American Joint Committee on Cancer, 7th edition, staging system) eligible for cisplatin-based, standard-dose (70 Gy) chemoradiotherapy. Pembrolizumab was administered concurrently with and after chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin. Safety was the primary end point and was determined by incidence of chemoradiotherapy adverse events (AEs) and immune-related AEs (irAEs). Efficacy was defined as complete response (CR) rate on end-of-treatment (EOT) imaging or with pathologic confirmation at 100 days postradiotherapy completion. Key secondary end points included overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: The study accrued 59 patients (human papillomavirus [HPV] positive, n = 34; HPV negative, n = 25) from November 2015 to October 2018. Five patients (8.8%) required discontinuation of pembrolizumab because of irAEs, all of which occurred during concurrent chemoradiotherapy; 98.3% of patients completed the full planned treatment dose (70 Gy) of radiotherapy without any delays ≥ 5 days; 88.1% of patients completed the goal cisplatin dose of ≥ 200 mg/m2. EOT CR rates were 85.3% and 78.3% for those with HPV-positive and -negative HNSCC, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pembrolizumab in combination with weekly cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy is safe and does not impair delivery of curative radiotherapy or chemotherapy in HNSCC. Early efficacy data support further investigation of this approach.

Implementing Precision Medicine Programs and Clinical Trials in the Community-Based Oncology Practice: Barriers and Best Practices.

There has been a rapid uptick in the pace of oncology precision medicine advancements over the past several decades as a result of increasingly sophisticated technology and the ability to study more patients through innovative trial designs. As more precision oncology approaches are developed, the need for precision medicine trials is increasing in the community setting, where most patients with cancer are treated. However, community-based practices, as well as some academic centers, may face unique barriers to implementing precision medicine programs and trials within their communities. Such challenges include understanding the tissue needs of molecular tests (e.g., tumor, blood), identifying which molecular tests are best used and when tissue should be tested, interpreting the test results and determining actionability, understanding the role of genetic counseling and/or follow-up testing, determining clinical trial eligibility, and assessing patient attitudes and financial concerns. The purpose of this article is to provide guidance to community-based oncology practices currently conducting clinical trials who want to expand their research program to include precision medicine trials. Here, we describe the core components of precision medicine programs and offer best practices for successful implementation of precision medicine trials in community-based practices.

Delivering Precision Oncology in a Community Cancer Program: Results From a Prospective Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: Precision oncology (PO) is a growing treatment approach in the era of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and matched therapies. Effective delivery of PO in the community has not been extensively studied. Our program developed a virtual molecular tumor board (MTB) strategy to help guide PO care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over 18 months, eligible adult patients with advanced, incurable solid tumor malignancies were enrolled in a molecular profiling (MP) study using the Foundation Medicine NGS panel. Results were reviewed through a weekly, videoconferenced MTB conducted across our largely rural integrated health system. Recommendations from the MTB were used to identify actionable alterations (AAs). Feasibility of PO care delivery was assessed as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included the frequency of AAs, genomic matched treatments, genomic matched clinical trial enrollment, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 120 participants with a variety of advanced tumor types were enrolled. Of these, 109 (90.8%) had successful MP. Treatment on the basis of an AA was recommended by the MTB in 58% of patients (63 of 109) who had a successful MP result. For those completing MP, treatments included enrollment in a genomic matched clinical trial (n = 16; 14.6%) and genomic matched treatment with a Food and Drug Administration-approved agent (n = 23; 21.1%). Response and survival data were similar regardless of the matched treatment option chosen. CONCLUSION: A video-conferenced MTB-facilitated NGS testing and treatment delivery system was implemented in our integrated community oncology program. Continued use of this model aims to increase understanding of the impact of PO in this setting.